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- (N0 Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. STURM.

TENEMBNT HOUSE. No. 332,457. Patented Dec. 15, 1885.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

. W. STURM.

TENEMBNT HOUSE.

No. 332.457 Patented Dec. 15, 1885.

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UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrcie.

WENDELIN STUBM, OF NEXV YORK, N Y.

TENEMENT-HOUSE.

SPECIPICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 332,457, dated December15, 1885.

Application filed February 7, 1885. Serial No. 155,256. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVENDELIN STURM, of the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTenement-Houses, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to furnish an improved plan for buildingtenementhouses, so that a better ventilation of the rooms, awell-lighted staircase, and a reliable means of egress in case of fireis furnished to' the tenants; and the invention consists of atenement-house having a light-shaft, of circular or other shape,at ornear the center of the building, said light-shaft having quadrantaloffsets on one or more stories,that provide the requisite space for thestaircase and landings on the floors.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a verticallongitudinal section on line 00 00, Fig. 3, of my improvedtenementhouse; Fig. 1, a horizontal section on line 3 Fig. 1; and Figs.2 and 3 are plans, respectively, of the basement and first floor of thetenement-house.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A in the drawings represents the front and side walls of a tenementhouse of the usual size and construction.

At or near the center of the building is arranged a light-shaft, B, ofcircular, elliptic, or

other suitable shape, and of a diameter of suitable length, according tothe width of the building. The light-shaft B is inclosed by a fire-proofwall, B, extended from the basement to the roof and covered by askylight, B.

A winding staircase is arranged in the lightshaft B, which staircase ismade of wood or other suitable material. The open central part of thestaircase admits the free circulation of the air from the basement tothe upper floors and roof of the building.

When the stories of the building are to be of greater height than nineor ten feet, oneqnarter of the wall of the lightshaft is set back, asshown in Figs. 2 and 3, so as to obtain thereby the required extra spacefor the greater number of steps required, and a landing for the rearpart of the stories. In the basement the extra space may be inclosed bya wall, so as to be utilized as a watercloset, as shown in Fig. 2, whilein the upper floors the water-closets are arranged in the angles formedby the set-back quadrantal wall, as shown in Fig. 3.

In most cases the first floor is made of greater height than the upperfloors, and used for business purposes, in which case the quadrantaloffset of the light shaft is used, while the same is not required forthe upper stories, which are seldom higher than ten feet. Thelight-shaft is made circular in the upper stories, that part of the wallabove the offset being supported by means ofextended beams.

The light shaft in the upper stories is large enough to furnish therequired space for the steps and the landing for the front and rearportions of the floors, the waterclosets being arranged in this case inextensions of the light-shaft, as shown in Fig. l.

Hinged iron doors d d are arranged at both sides of the light-shaft,where the same communicates with the halls, said doors being closed incase of fire, so as to close up the halls and keep the light-shaft B andstaircase 0 free from smoke.

As the light-shaft communicates with the basement and lower halls andwith the skylight and roof, a continuous ventilation is kept up in thesame, while a sufficient light is sup plied through the skylight to keepthe staircase well lighted.

Suitable guard devices are arranged at the inner rail of the stairs, soas to prevent children from falling over the railing.

Tenement-houses of this construction furnish effective ventilation, awell-lighted stairway, and a reliable means of escape in case of fire,as the smoke can thereby be kept off from the staircase, so that thetenants can escape with perfect safety.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent A tenement-house having a light-shaft inclosed byfire-proof walls at or near the cen- 'ter of the building, a Windingstaircase ar-' In testimony'that I claim the foregoing as ranged in thelight-shaft, landings at each my invention I have signed my name inpresfloor communicating with said staircase, said ence of twosubscribing witnesses.

light-shaft having a quadrantal offset in' one WENDELIN STURM. 5 or morestories, so as to provide the requisite Witnesses:

space for the staircase and landing, substau- PAUL GOEPEL, tially as setforth. CARL KARP.

